Choate Rosemary Hall 333 Christian Street Wallingford, CT Vol. CXIV · No. VIII Friday, February 26, 2021 thechoatenews.choate.edu ASSOCIATE HEAD OF SCHOOL KATHLEEN WALLACE TO RETIRE By Alexis Lien ’23 special person to make a safe Staff Reporter place for people who have lost trust and faith in this school.” After 39 years at Choate, He added, “I don’t know that Associate Head of School Ms. anyone will ever know how Kathleen Wallace will retire at much she did in that capacity the end of the school year. From and how much we owe her, as teaching to coaching to advis- an institution, for that work.” ing, Ms. Wallace has served in Dean of Students Mr. Mike many roles in her time at the Velez ’00 commended Ms. School. Over the years, she Wallace’s composure and her has been the Dean of Academ- indefatigable work ethic. “She ic Affairs, Science Department has been a source of consis- Head, a science and French tency and reliability in all the teacher, a form dean, and a roles she has served,” he said. coach to both field hockey and “As the school pivoted in sev- basketball. She was appointed eral directions, she has been a to what is now known as the As- steadying force.” sociate Head of School in 2008. Ms. Wallace has long bal- She has played a role in the anced her administrative du- creation of multiple signature ties with those in the class- programs, including the Sci- room. If she isn’t leading ence Research Program (SRP), dissections in her anatomy the Arabic and Middle Eastern classes, she might be advising Studies (AMES) signature aca- day students or students living demic program, and the Envi- at the KEC. ronmental Immersion Program Alua Tulbassova ’21, who (EIP) at the Kohler Environ- studied anatomy and physiolo- mental Center (KEC). gy with Ms. Wallace during the Ms. Wallace said, “It felt real- 2019-2020 school year, said, ly good being impactful, making “She was super encouraging positive changes on the academic in terms of speaking up even program at Choate, in a way that if you’re not one hundred per- still exists today and sets an ex- cent sure of the answer, and I ample for other institutions.” think it helped me in how I ap- In recent years, Ms. Wal- proached all my other classes.” lace has also served as the She went on, “I just genuinely Choate community’s primary felt like she cared.” contact for reports of sexual Many former students de- misconduct. clared her their role model. Photo courtesy of the Choate Archives Head of School Dr. Alex Ms. Kathleen Walllace has served in multiple roles throughout her 39 years at Choate. Curtis said that it “takes a very See WALLACE, Page 2 SCHOOL TURNS Senior Sledding Tradition HOPEFUL EYE TO Resumes After Three Balmy Years SPRING TERM Dr. Cohen said that although By Ryan Kim ’23 Choate staff might start receiv- Reporter ing vaccinations sometime in March, the timeline for stu- With the beginning of dents may differ depending on spring term, March 22, quickly their home state and the state approaching, the School’s ad- of Connecticut. Dr. Cohen has ministration has been working communicated with the Con- to formulate a plan for return necticut Department of Public that mimics as closely as pos- Health (CT DPH) regarding the sible the pre-pandemic Choate possibility of giving vaccines on experience while ensuring the campus, but the vaccine supply safety of the community. from CT DPH remains uncer- According to Medical Di- tain. Once vaccinations are ap- rector Dr. Miriam Cohen, the proved, the Health Center may spring term will likely be simi- be able to administer vaccines lar to this school year’s fall and for students in Connecticut. winter terms, with mitigation As the School sought a bal- Photo courtesy of Dey Wallace McKinstry Photo courtesy of Sabrina Kim strategies such as masking, so- ance between campus safety Seniors participated in senior sledding to celebrate 100 days till graduation. The event took place behind the Girls’ JV Soccer field. cial distancing, and handwash- and student life, many tradi- ing in place, but more specific tions this year, such as Hol- ate’s Safe and Sounder plan. opportunity to be outdoors and ing around in the snow with my guidelines will depend on the iday Ball and First Hurrah, By Renee Jiang ’22 Seniors learning remotely were enjoy the snow as a collective friends while surrounded by spring Covid-19 statistics and have moved to a completely Associate Editor also unable to participate. senior class on the 100th day music and laughter. This was trends in Connecticut. After a virtual format over Zoom. The According to Ms. Brown, before graduation. “So many se- the first time most of the senior mandatory quarantine period, School, however, is determined On Friday, February 19, se- “SAGE is not doing any catering so niors are sad that we don’t get to class got together in one specif- students will resume the same to ensure that the traditions niors convened near Gunpowder we ordered local pizza and passed participate in the many school ic time slot, so it was definitely freedoms in the winter term. of senior spring occur in some Creek for the first senior sledding that out ourselves with rubber traditions and senior privileges, a memorable experience.” For instance, after two weeks physical form for the Class of event since 2018. Due to a lack of gloves on, of course. Also, we only so it was really great to have this Ms. Brown echoed this sen- of negative testing on campus, 2021. Dr. Cohen said that, as snow, the senior sledding tradi- handed out 50 sleds at a time so tradition upheld this year,” said timent. “As deans, it was really students within the same fam- long as activities can be held tion was paused for the past two there would not be too much of a Nneoma Iloeje ’21. wonderful to be able to mix with ily unit will be allowed to enter safely and in accordance with years. However, the consistent, backlog on the top of the hill.” Given the new 10:00 p.m. the students and to see them all each other’s dorm rooms with- Choate Covid-19 guidelines, the heavy snow experienced these In a comprehensive set of rules curfew for the winter term, se- enjoying each other and the snow. out masks, and more students usual senior-spring rites like past few weeks have allowed written by Ms. Duckett Ireland, niors were also given the priv- The campus looked beautiful. Six will be allowed in rooms at the Last Hurrah, Garden Party, Se- sixth-form deans Ms. Julia Brown students had to remain six feet ilege of extended curfew until party-size pizzas were demol- same time. In addition, day stu- nior Dance Lessons, and Com- ’83 and Ms. Mb Duckett Ireland apart at all times, only one person 10:40 p.m. After a night of sled- ished in no time! Almost all of the dents will again be allowed to mencement will occur. to bring back the tradition. was allowed on each sled, and no ding in the cold winter air, se- six formers on campus attended.” commute to campus from their This year’s event differed sled chains were permitted. niors were able to enjoy hot piz- homes but will be restricted Ryan Kim may be reached from previous years because of Despite the strict safety za to finish off the event. Anna Renee Jiang may be reached from entering the dorms. at [email protected] health restrictions from Cho- guidelines, students relished the Bonem ’21 said, “I enjoyed play- at [email protected] Lu as President Editorial What’s Inside The new Student Body The 114th masthead reflects on School News ............................. 1-2 President shares her agenda. Local News .................................... 3 documenting a Covid world. Opinions Campus ........................... 4 BREAKFAST SERVED ALL DAY School News • P2 Opinions N/W .................................. 5 Opinions Campus • P4 Features .......................................... 6 DELIVERY AVAILABLE Arts and Leisure ............................... 7 Sports ............................................. 8 Humans of Wallingford An (Adjective) Winter Read it, then recycle it. Local business owners De-stress with a fun fill-in-the- love this town. blank game about Winter term. Visuals by Radix, Local News • P3 Features • P6 MyRecordJournal, Britannica, and SeekPNG. (203) 269-9507 WWW.COLONYDINER.COM Page 2 || The Choate News Friday, February 26, 2021 GREEN CUP CHALLENGE Community Gathers for Second ADAPTS TO VIRTUAL SETTING Conversation on Pan-Asian Identity By Heidi Li ’23 By Tiffany Xiao ’23 munity. Attendance to conver- guidelines of the first event, add- Reporter Reporter sations in the fall, including ones ing, “It was hard personally to on Black and queer identity, had hear that some took it as me being The Conservation Proctors On February 19, the School been required. The lack of a simi- anti-Asian or not fully supportive (C-Proctors) kicked off their came together over Zoom for a lar stipulation for the February 3 of all identities in our communi- 15th annual energy conserva- Community Conversation on event felt like a microaggression ty.” She promised “to uplift shared tion challenge, the Green Cup Pan-Asian identity. Students to many members of Choate’s conversations and understanding Challenge, on Monday, Febru- and faculty were required to Pan-Asian community. of all identities” on campus. ary 15. Like many events this attend the event. “It rubbed me the wrong way,” Still, Dr. Myers said, not all year, the 2021 Green Cup Chal- The topics discussed includ- said Hugo Chung ‘22.